What does פָּרַע (pāraʿ) mean in the Bible?
פָּרַע (pāraʿ): Releasing restraint: loosening physical bonds, exposing what was hidden, or absolving from obligation through decisive action
Hebrew · H6544
פָּרַע
To loosen ; by implication, to expose , dismiss ; figuratively, absolve , begin
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
פָּרַע H6544
Pronunciation pāraʿ
What does פָּרַע (pāraʿ) mean in the Bible?
פָּרַע (pāraʿ): Releasing restraint: loosening physical bonds, exposing what was hidden, or absolving from obligation through decisive action
Full entry for פָּרַע (H6544) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6544?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include hang loose (2), Avoid it (1), because you neglected (1), become disheveled (1), cast off restraint (1).
Where does פָּרַע (pāraʿ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 5:4. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (6), Exodus (3), Leviticus (3), 2 Chronicles (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It hang loose 2× Leviticus 13:45, Leviticus 21:10
Avoid it 1× Proverbs 4:15
because you neglected 1× Proverbs 1:25
become disheveled 1× Leviticus 10:6
cast off restraint 1× Proverbs 29:18
come to him who ignores 1× Proverbs 13:18
do you draw 1× Exodus 5:4
had let them run wild 1× Exodus 32:25
had thrown off restraint 1× 2 Chronicles 28:19
he is to let down 1× Numbers 5:18
He who ignores 1× Proverbs 15:32
ignore it 1× Proverbs 8:33
refrain 1× Ezekiel 24:14
take the lead 1× Judges 5:2
were out of control 1× Exodus 32:25
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 5:4 תַּפְרִ֥יעוּ to do you draw Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Exodus 32:25 פָרֻ֖עַ to were out of control Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular Exodus 32:25 פְרָעֹ֣ה to had let them run wild Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Leviticus 10:6 תִּפְרָ֣עוּ׀ to become disheveled Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Leviticus 13:45 פָר֔וּעַ to hang loose Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular Leviticus 21:10 יִפְרָ֔ע to hang loose Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Numbers 5:18 וּפָרַע֙ to he is to let down Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Judges 5:2 בִּפְרֹ֤עַ to take the lead Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct 2 Chronicles 28:19 הִפְרִ֙יעַ֙ to had thrown off restraint Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Proverbs 1:25 וַתִּפְרְע֥וּ to because you neglected Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 5:4
Aligned rows 16
Books represented 7
Exodus 3 Leviticus 3 Numbers 1 Judges 1 2 Chronicles 1 Proverbs 6 Ezekiel 1
Source forms
פּוֹרֵ֣עַ 2x pō·w·rê·a‘ Proverbs 13:18, Proverbs 15:32
אֶפְרַ֥ע 1x ’ep̄·ra‘ Ezekiel 24:14
בִּפְרֹ֤עַ 1x bip̄·rō·a‘ Judges 5:2
הִפְרִ֙יעַ֙ 1x hip̄·rî·a‘ 2 Chronicles 28:19
וּפָרַע֙ 1x ū·p̄ā·ra‘ Numbers 5:18
וַתִּפְרְע֥וּ 1x wat·tip̄·rə·‘ū Proverbs 1:25
יִפְרָ֔ע 1x yip̄·rā‘ Leviticus 21:10
יִפָּ֣רַֽע 1x yip·pā·ra‘ Proverbs 29:18
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural 2x Leviticus 10:6, Proverbs 8:33
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2x Proverbs 13:18, Proverbs 15:32
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular 2x Exodus 32:25, Leviticus 13:45
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 1x Numbers 5:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural 1x Proverbs 1:25
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct 1x Judges 5:2
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural 1x Exodus 5:4
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular 1x 2 Chronicles 28:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Releasing restraint: loosening physical bonds, exposing what was hidden, or absolving from obligation through decisive action
Strong's H6544
Lexical occurrences 16 verses Word forms 3 forms 11 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Leviticus 13:45-46 Source Gloss
to loosen ; by implication, to expose , dismiss ; figuratively, absolve , begin
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Releasing restraint: loosening physical bonds, exposing what was hidden, or absolving from obligation through decisive action
to loosen; by implication, to expose, dismiss; figuratively, absolve, begin BDB: act as leader Usage: avenge, avoid, bare, go back, let, (make) naked, set at nought, perish, refuse, uncover.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 3 Aligned forms 11
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 8×
Participle passive Exod 32:25 · Lev 13:45 2×
Jussive Lev 10:6 · Prov 8:33 2×
Participle active Prov 13:18 · Prov 15:32 2×
Imperfect Ezek 24:14 · Lev 21:10 2×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 2×
Perfect 2Chr 28:19 1×
Imperfect Exod 5:4 1×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 1×
Imperfect Prov 29:18 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
to expose or lay bare, revealing the afflicted condition of leprosy
to dismiss or reject correction, resulting in poverty and shame
to reject or disregard discipline, contrasted with heeding reproof
to let go or abandon, resulting in moral disorder when vision is absent
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 16 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
פָּרַע is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain